[The role of lncRNA TERC in the malignant transformation of cells induced by long-term toxicity of hexavalent chromium by regulating the expression of MYNN and SERPINC1 genes].

Authors

S M Pan, B Xu, Q Q Qian, X D Li, J F Chen, J L Lou, L F Feng

Published in

Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases. Volume 44. Issue 7. Pages 517-524. Jul 20, 2026.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of hexavalent chromium exposure on lncRNA TERC and its target genes MYNN and SERPINC1 in BEAS-2B cells, and their roles in hexavalent chromium-induced malignant transformation. Methods: In September 2022, BEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of hexavalent chromium, and the mRNA expression levels of lncRNA TERC, MYNN and SERPINC1 were detected by qPCR. After knockdown or overexpression of lncRNA TERC via transfection, the cells were exposed to hexavalent chromium and the gene expression changes were measured. Long-term continuous exposure to 0.5 μmol/L hexavalent chromium was performed, and malignant phenotypes were assessed by morphological observation, wound healing assay, plate colony formation assay and soft agar colony formation assay. In malignantly transformed cells, the effects of lncRNA TERC knockdown or overexpression on target gene expression and cell migration were evaluated. For inter-group data comparisons, if the data follow a normal distribution with homogeneous variances, one-way ANOVA is employed, followed by pairwise comparisons using the SNK test. Results: After 24 h exposure to 0.75 and 1 μmol/L hexavalent chromium, the mRNA expression levels of MYNN and SERPINC1 increased with the elevation of concentration (P<0.05). After exposure to 0.5 μmol/L hexavalent chromium for 1-7 d, the expression levels of both genes showed an overall upward trend with prolonged duration. Knockdown of lncRNA TERC significantly decreased SERPINC1 expression (P<0.05), while overexpression of lncRNA TERC elevated the expression of both MYNN and SERPINC1 (P<0.05). After long-term exposure to 0.5 μmol/L hexavalent chromium for 60 passages, the cells exhibited malignant phenotypic changes, with increased 48 h migration rate (P<0.05) and higher soft agar colony formation rate than the control group [ (0.20±0.04) vs (0.09±0.03), P<0.05]. The expression of TERC remained higher than that of the control group throughout the exposure (P<0.05). In malignantly transformed cells, the expression levels of MYNN and SERPINC1 were elevated (P<0.05). Knockdown of TERC decreased the expression of both genes and reduced cell migration (P<0.05), whereas overexpression of TERC markedly increased the expression of both genes (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Hexavalent chromium exposure induces alterations in MYNN and SERPINC1 expression in BEAS-2B cells, demonstrating concentration-and time-dependent effects. lncRNA TERC may promote cell migration by regulating the expression of MYNN and SERPINC1, playing a role in hexavalent chromium-induced malignant transformation.

PMID:
42533646
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 31 Jul 2026.

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